AO vs Currys Compared: Prices, Delivery & Returns

If you’re buying a new washing machine, fridge freezer or TV, you’ll almost always end up comparing AO.com and Currys.

I’ve used both regularly over the years. Service has generally been fine from each. But I’ve also seen £50–£150 price differences on identical products — sometimes within days.

So which one actually offers better value in 2026?

Here’s a proper side-by-side comparison covering:

• Prices
• Price matching
• Delivery & installation
• Returns (updated for 2026)
• Finance options
• Discounts & cashback
• Customer reviews

And at the end, I’ll show you exactly how I decide where to buy.

AO vs Currys


AO vs Currys: Quick Decision Guide

Choose AO if you want:

• Lower prices on big appliances
• Flexible delivery time slots
• Higher customer ratings
• A smoother large-item experience
• 100-day returns (Five Star only)

Currys logo

Choose Currys if you want:

• Click & Collect convenience
• Easy online price matching
• Physical stores nationwide
• Regular 0% finance offers
• Loyalty vouchers and perks


That’s the short version. Below is the detail.

AO vs Currys Price Comparison (2026 Snapshot)

Prices change daily, so this is a snapshot using identical model numbers across popular categories.

Product

AO

Currys

Shark Anti Hair Wrap Vacuum

£199

£179

Samsung Ecobubble Washing Machine

£429

£429

LG OLED 48″ TV

£650

£699

Samsung Galaxy model

£769

£699

HP DeskJet Printer

£44

£49.99

Hive Thermostat

£179

£179

Philips Hue Lightstrip

£192

£199.99

Samsung Soundbar

£999

£1,099

Hisense Fridge Freezer

£799

£899.99

Sony Headphones (older model)

£129

£139


Which is cheapest?

AO was cheaper in 6 out of 10 examples.

That doesn’t mean AO always wins. It means you should never assume either retailer is permanently cheaper.

In my experience:

• AO often undercuts on large appliances
• Currys can be stronger on phones and smaller tech
• Weekend flash sales can flip the result completely

Winner – AO (just)


Also worth reading

If you want to save money on your appliances, take a look at my page on finding the best deals when shopping for white goods.


Price Matching (Who Makes It Easier?)

Both retailers offer price matching, but the process differs.

AO requires you to contact them before purchase. If the price drops after you buy, you can request a refund of the difference — but it isn’t automatic.

Currys allows online price matching, including discount codes. If approved, you’re given a voucher before checkout. You can also do it in store.

One important nuance in 2026: both retailers factor delivery costs into price matching. So if one is £10 cheaper but charges £10 delivery, it may count as a “match” rather than a price beat.

Because of the online system:

Winner – Currys


Delivery & Installation Costs

This is where total cost can quietly swing your decision.

AO Delivery

• Weekday delivery often free
• Weekend slots typically around £10
• Faster delivery around £20
• Fridge freezer install + old removal: approx £55
• Washing machine install + removal: approx £50
• Strong time-slot flexibility

Currys Delivery

• Many standard slots free
• Some days £5
• Fridge freezer install + removal: approx £70
• Washing machine install + removal: approx £45
• Click & Collect available

AO tends to win on flexibility.

Currys can be slightly cheaper on certain installations and offers in-store pickup.

Winner – Draw


Returns Policy

This has changed compared to a few years ago.

AO’s standard returns policy is 30 days for unused items.

The well-known 100-day return window applies only if you’re an AO Five Star member (their paid loyalty scheme).

Currys has now standardised to 30 days for most online returns as well.

So the gap is much smaller than it used to be.

Where AO still edges it:

• Slightly more flexible approach to opened items
• Partial refund options within 14 days
• 100-day window for Five Star members

Standard returns – Draw
Flexibility – AO
Extended returns – AO (members only)

Winner – AO (but not by a mile anymore)


Finance Options

Retail APRs remain high in 2026.

Typical representative APR:

• Currys – around 24.9% variable
• AO – around 19.9% variable

Both are expensive compared to a 0% purchase credit card if you qualify.

However, Currys heavily promotes brand-specific 0% finance deals (often 12–36 months) on certain products. If you qualify and clear it in time, that can make Currys the cheaper finance route.

On headline APR alone:

Winner – AO
On promotional 0% deals – Currys can win

Personally, I only use finance if it’s genuinely 0% and I know I’ll clear it before interest kicks in.


Discounts, Cashback & Loyalty

Never buy electricals without checking cashback.

Both AO and Currys regularly appear on cashback sites. Even 2–5% back on a £1,000 appliance is £20–£50 saved.

I always check:

• Cashback rates
• Blue Light Card discounts (both occasionally run them — see my Blue Light Card discount list)
• Voucher codes
• Email sign-up offers

Currys also runs Currys Perks, which can generate gift cards or targeted vouchers.

Because of loyalty pushes and frequent promos:

Winner – Currys


Customer Reviews

Customer sentiment still favours AO overall.

AO consistently scores higher on review platforms and has a lower percentage of negative ratings compared to Currys.

No large retailer is perfect — delivery complaints are common for both — but AO holds the stronger reputation.

Winner – AO


When AO Is Better

Choose AO if:

• You want slightly cheaper large appliances
• Flexible delivery slots matter
• You value stronger review scores
• You want access to 100-day returns (via Five Star)

When Currys Is Better

Choose Currys if:

• You want Click & Collect
• You prefer online price matching
• You want access to physical stores
• You’re using brand-specific 0% finance

How I Personally Decide

Here’s exactly what I do:

  1. Compare the exact model number on both sites
  2. Screenshot prices
  3. Check cashback rates
  4. Factor in installation and removal fees
  5. Consider returns flexibility

I’ve saved £80+ in the past just by spending five extra minutes comparing properly.

Electrical pricing is volatile. A weekend sale can completely flip the winner.

AO vs Currys: Final Verdict

Overall, AO edges it.

It wins slightly more often on price, holds stronger customer ratings and offers better flexibility around returns (especially for Five Star members).

But I still check both every time.

The real winner is competition. When these two go head-to-head, we benefit.

If you’re spending serious money on appliances or tech, take a few extra minutes to compare properly. It’s usually worth it.


A little tip if you’re shopping at Currys

If you decide to go with Currys, visit Everup first. This app lets you buy shopping vouchers at a discount. The rates vary, but tend to be between 2% and 5%. These sometimes stack with cashback sites… but not always.

Ready to shop?



FAQs

Is AO cheaper than Currys?

AO is often slightly cheaper, particularly on white goods. However, prices fluctuate daily, so always compare both before buying.

Does Currys price match AO?

Yes. Currys offers online price matching before purchase, including discount codes, subject to approval.

Which retailer has the better returns policy?

Both now offer 30-day standard returns. AO offers a 100-day return window for Five Star members and slightly more flexibility on opened items.

Is delivery free at AO?

Weekday delivery is often free on large appliances, with additional charges for weekend or faster slots.

Is AO more reliable than Currys?

Review scores generally favour AO, though experiences vary with both retailers.

Similar Posts

  • Co-op Freezer Deal (3 Freezer Favourites for £6: What’s Included This Week?)

    Current Co-op Freezer Deal (Until 24 March 2026)

    The current Co-op Freezer Favourites deal running in selected stores is:

    • 3 freezer favourites for £6 for Co-op members
    • 3 for £7 for non-members

    Most of the items included normally cost around £3 each, so buying them individually could easily cost £9 or more.

    That means the deal can knock £3 off your shopping, which isn’t bad for quick freezer food.

    The current offer runs until 24 March 2026 in selected Co-op stores and online.

    Products Included in the Current Co-op Freezer Deal

    The following items are included in the 3 for £6 Co-op freezer favourites deal at the moment.

    Birds Eye 2 Crispy Chicken in Tempura Batter 170g – £3
    Birds Eye 12 Chicken Dippers 220g – £3
    Young’s Chip Shop 2 Fish Steaks 200g – £3
    Goodfella’s Stonebaked Thin Pepperoni Pizza 332g – £3
    Crosta Mollica Garlic & Mozzarella Sourdough Flatbread 229g – £3
    Birds Eye Garden Peas 800g – £3
    McCain Crispy French Fries 900g – £3.50
    McCain Hash Browns 625g – £3
    Dr Oetker Ristorante Mozzarella Pizza 335g – £3.25
    Rowntree’s Watermelon Lollies 4 pack – £3
    Rowntree’s Fruit Blast Lollies 6 pack – £3
    Rowntree’s Mango Stick Ice Lollies 4 pack – £3

    Because the deal rotates, your local Co-op may have slightly different products included in the promotion.

    What Is the Co-op Freezer Favourites Deal?

    The Co-op frozen meal deal is a rotating supermarket promotion that discounts selected frozen foods when you buy multiple items together.

    The structure changes occasionally, but it usually works something like this:

    • buy several frozen products
    • mix and match from the qualifying range
    • get a discounted bundle price

    Older versions of the promotion were often called the Co-op £5 freezer deal or the Co-op fiver deal, which is why many shoppers still search for those terms.

    Do You Need a Co-op Membership?

    You don’t have to be a member to get the deal, but membership makes it cheaper.

    A Co-op membership costs £1 for life, and it usually unlocks:

    • member-only prices
    • personalised weekly offers
    • cheaper promotions like this freezer deal

    In this case, members pay £6 instead of £7.

    If you shop there even occasionally, it usually pays for itself pretty quickly.

    Is the Co-op Freezer Deal Good Value?

    For convenience food, it can be.

    Most of the items included in the promotion cost roughly £3 each.

    Buying three individually could cost:

    £3
    £3
    £3

    That’s £9 normally.

    But with the deal you pay:

    £6 for members
    £7 for non-members

    That’s a saving of £2–£3 per shop, which makes it a handy way to grab quick dinners or snacks for the freezer.

    I tend to pick up things like pizzas, chicken dippers or chips if they’re included — they’re useful emergency meals when you can’t be bothered to cook properly.

    Is the Deal Available in Every Co-op?

    Unfortunately not.

    The Co-op freezer deal is only available in selected stores, mainly because some smaller convenience branches don’t stock the full frozen range.

    You may also find the deal in:

    • larger Co-op convenience stores
    • some Nisa stores that sell Co-op products
    • Co-op online grocery orders

    If one of the qualifying items is missing in your store, the promotion may not apply.

    Ways to Save Even More at Co-op

    The freezer deal is already decent value, but you can sometimes stack extra savings.

    Use Cashback Apps

    Cashback apps are an easy way to get a bit of money back when you shop.

    One example is Airtime Rewards, which lets you link your debit card and automatically earn cashback when you shop at certain retailers.

    Any money you earn can be used to reduce your mobile phone bill.

    You can sign up and use the code 8YXY4BLK to get a 50p bonus.

    Retailers change regularly, so Co-op isn’t always included, but it’s worth checking.

    Activate Bank Cashback Offers

    Several UK banks now offer cashback deals directly inside their banking apps.

    Banks that sometimes run supermarket cashback promotions include:

    • Santander
    • NatWest
    • Lloyds

    All you need to do is activate the offer and shop normally.

    Some offers can give up to 10–15% cashback, which stacks nicely with supermarket deals.

    Scan Your Receipts

    Several apps now pay you simply for uploading supermarket receipts.

    You just take a photo of your receipt and earn points that can be exchanged for vouchers or PayPal cash.

    If you want to maximise this, take a look at the best receipt scanning apps that currently work in the UK.

    Final Thoughts

    The Co-op freezer deal isn’t going to replace your weekly supermarket shop, but it’s still a handy way to grab cheap frozen food when you’re passing a store.

    Getting three freezer items for £6 can be surprisingly good value when most of them normally cost around £3 each.

    Just remember the products rotate regularly, so it’s always worth checking what’s included in the current Co-op freezer deal this week.

    And if you like making the most of supermarket promotions, you might also want to check the next dates for 25% off six bottles of wine, which run several times a year.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *